Oral Answers to Questions

Julie Cooper Excerpts

Wednesday 11th July 2018 Commons Chamber

[Mr Lidington]

My hon. Friend is right. I think that those of us who campaigned on the remain side need to respect the decision that the people of the country took, and to ponder the damage that would be done to what is already fragile confidence in our democratic institutions were that verdict to be ignored. I am confident that when my hon. Friend reads the White Paper tomorrow, she will see that we have a vision for a future relationship that will meet the vote that the people delivered.

[Julie Cooper (Burnley) (Lab)]

Q9. I am sure the Minister will want to join me in thanking hospices across the country for the fantastic work they do supporting the terminally ill and their families, and especially the Pendleside Hospice, which supports my constituents, but is he aware that over the last eight years average Government grants have been cut from 32% to 20%, and that as these charities are outside the “Agenda for Change”, they are not eligible to apply for funding to cover the NHS pay award? Will he today give a commitment that the Government do value the work of hospices and will he step in to get some extra funding to cover this award?

[Mr Lidington]

I am very happy to pay tribute to the work done at the Pendleside Hospice and hospices around the country. It is important that we see hospices as a very important element on a spectrum of palliative care and care at the end of life, which takes place sometimes in a hospice setting and sometimes in other settings. My right hon. Friend the Health Secretary will of course now be considering with the NHS leadership how to deliver on the ambitious long-term funding arrangement that the Government recently announced, and I am sure he will bear the hon. Lady’s comments in mind.